Dear Parents and Carers

“Every human person possesses an infinite dignity, inalienably grounded in his or her very being, which prevails in and beyond every circumstance, state, or situation the person may ever encounter.”

• Dignitas Infinita: On Human Dignity

In early April this year, the Vatican released its document, ‘On Human Dignity’. The quote above comes from the document, and serves as the opening sentence of the introduction. The sentence boldly proclaims the intention and underlying principle of the document. This document makes clear the unconditional worth and dignity of all human beings. This is grounded, it says, in the fact that all people are made in the image of God, a statement that is fundamental to our Catholic faith. There can never be too much defence of the dignity of all people. The history of the world shows that the dignity of the vulnerable will forever need upholding and protecting. The Archbishop has asked all school leaders and their leadership teams to look at and discuss the document. I attach a link to the article here, and also include a link to a Eureka Street article on the Vatican document. Vatican invites global discussion on human dignity.

Currents of Grace

A two-day conference was held this week at ACU. The University hosted national and international attendees, as well of course local archdiocesan participants. The focus was the Catholic school as an agent of evangelisation. Amanda Basedow, our acting REC, attended the conference and I was able to be part of some of the program on Monday. The conference was rich with ideas and people’s experiences of staff and student formation, family outreach, and being a point of contact for people searching for a connection to the Church. It was a very worthwhile conference.

Online Safety

Sts Peter and Paul is mindful of the ongoing needs around the safety and wellbeing of students, in their use of IT, at school and at home. Recently, the school sent home a sheet detailing safety tips in keeping your children safe online. Over the next few weeks, I will reproduce the tips in the newsletter. Below I have listed the first three pieces of advice:

1. Engage in Open Dialogue

Initiate regular and open conversations with your child about their online activities. Discuss the sites they visit, the apps they use, and their interactions with others. Understanding and agreeing on what is appropriate for your family is crucial. 

2. Monitor Online Presence with Visibility

Keep screens and devices in common family areas to monitor your child’s online time, especially for younger children. For mobile devices, consider settings that require your permission for internet access. Regularly check browser histories to understand their online habits.

3. Utilise Parental Controls Effectively

Learn to use parental controls and search restrictions effectively. Tools like Google’s SafeSearch Filters can help block inappropriate content. While not foolproof, these controls are valuable for limiting exposure to harmful material.

Educate your children about their digital footprint. Stress the permanence of online sharing and the importance of being selective with the information they post.

The Love of Books and Reading

Today at 12pm, we held the ‘National Simultaneous Storytime’ event in the school hall, for all students from K – 6. This event aims to unite all schools simultaneously, around the country, at 12pm, to hear a story. Our love of books and reading continues next week, with our Book Fair taking place from Tuesday to Thursday. The fair provides families with the opportunity to purchase some books and help to foster your child’s love of reading. My thanks to Amanda Basedow for coordinating and organising both events.

Rostrum Public Speaking Competition

On Thursday, the school finals will take place, for our Year 6 students, for the annual Rostrum Public Speaking competition. The winner will represent the school later this term at the regional competition. I would like to wish all of our Year 6 students the very best, for doing their very best. My thanks too to Katie McGregor, for coordinating and organising the opportunity for our students.

Athletics Carnival

Thursday next week sees all students have an opportunity to compete and to contribute in a different way. We are holding our 2024 Athletics Carnival at Woden Athletics Park. The children will walk down to the park and back again to school. If you are able to volunteer on the day, please email luke.gubler@cg.catholic.edu.au

My thanks to Luke for his excellent organisation and work.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal